HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services (ENV) confirms that crews greatly reduced the flow of a sewer discharge under Nimitz Highway Bridge at 7:30 p.m. Monday by installing a temporary plug in a failed 14-inch gravity sewer line and fully stopped the discharge by 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. City crews and a contractor are now working to replace the failed section of the pipe.
A crew working near Awa Street and Nimitz Highway discovered the failed 14-inch sewer line discharging into Nuʻuanu Stream around 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2025. ENV was notified and immediately dispatched crews to begin mitigation efforts.
Crews worked throughout the day to stop the flow from the damaged pipe. Due to site conditions and the nature of the break several initial attempts to fully stop the discharge were unsuccessful. At approximately 7:30 p.m. crews successfully installed a plug in the gravity line significantly reducing the discharge rate. Crews worked continuously through the night and fully stopped the flow at 3:30 a.m.
The total volume discharged into the stream has not yet been determined. The cause of the pipe failure remains under investigation.
ENV’s priority throughout the response has been to mitigate impacts and stop the discharge as quickly and safely as possible. The focus is now on replacing the broken pipe. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Warning signs will remain posted in the harbor area near the spill location. Water quality tests will be conducted by ENV and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
